Friday, March 8, 2019

The US Coast Guard commissioned the second of four new, California-based 154-foot Fast Response Cutters on March 2. The Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward will be homeported in Los Angeles-Long Beach.

The four cutters will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which encompasses California and international waters off of Mexico and Central America.

“This cutter is specifically designed to face today’s threats in the maritime domain,” said Rear Adm. Peter Gautier, the 11th Coast Guard District commander. “This cutter is faster, goes further and can do more than any other Coast Guard patrol boat.”

The cutters were designed to conduct drug and migrant interdictions, search and rescue and other missions.

“The crew and I are truly honored to serve aboard such a capable platform and we look forward to continuing the Coast Guard's vital missions throughout California and the Pacific," said Lt. Benjamin Davne, the Robert Ward commanding officer.

These new cranes – capable of working two 18,000-TEU container ships simultaneously – will possess an outreach of 24 containers and a lift height of 165 feet above the pier deck, according to the NWSA.

They will be installed at Husky Terminal, which recently completed an estimated $250 million in terminal improvements on Tacoma’s General Central Peninsula, including the strengthening and realigning of a berth and the addition of eight new super-post-Panamax cranes.

On Wednesday March 13, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will provide the latest progress report on the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan 2017 Update (CAAP). This will be the first of four meetings scheduled for this year.

The CAAP Update is the ports’ strategy for achieving its zero-emission goal while bolstering its position in the international economy.

Since enacting the strategy nearly 15 years ago, diesel particulate matter has fallen 87 percent, while nitrogen oxides dropped 58 percent, and sulfur oxides are down 97 percent. The 2017 version of the CAAP targets greenhouse gases from port operations. The goal is to lower GHG by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

The meeting will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. in the 1st Floor Training Room at the Port of Long Beach Interim Administrative Offices, 4801 Airport Plaza Drive in Long Beach.

The Falls of Clyde, a 280-foot steel-mast sailing vessel docked at Pier 7 of Honolulu Harbor, could not be auctioned due to lack of qualified bidders, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

“We were optimistic a bidder would step forward and purchase this ship, however we did not receive any qualified bids that were able to meet the requirements,” said Deputy Director Derek Chow, Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division. “While a lot of people may want to see the ship restored, paying for it remains an issue.”

In accordance with state law, the agency’s Harbors Division will continue the process of removing the impounded and unpermitted vessel. Selling the vessel by negotiation, donating it to a governmental agency or otherwise disposing of it are some of the available options.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Sea veterans will now be able to smoothly transition into the United States Merchant Marine, thanks to an Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday, March 4.

The order allows the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to support mariner credentialing. They will review all military training and experience to see which could qualify toward mariner credentials. Within a year of the order, they will submit a list of all identified training and experience to the US Coast Guard National Maritime Center. The NMC will then determine which ones can count towards credentialing and take appropriate action to waive fees for active service members pursuing or possessing a mariner credential.

A robust merchant marine is vital to US national and economic security, and qualified merchant mariners are in short supply, according to the president’s executive order.

“As our strategic competitors expand their global footprint, the United States must retain its ability to project and sustain forces globally. This capability requires a sufficient corps of credentialed merchant mariners available to crew the necessary sealift fleet. Attracting additional trained and credentialed mariners, particularly from active duty service members and military veterans, will support United States national security requirements and provide meaningful, well-paying jobs to United States veterans,” the order reads.

Port of Seattle commissioners agreed to spend $4 million toward the first phase of the Terminal 91 (T-91) Uplands Development, a move that supports infrastructure expansion of the area north of Magnolia Bridge.

The port’s Real Estate Development Department plans to build two 50,000-square-foot light industrial buildings to help maritime manufacturers and fishing industry suppliers in the Ballard Interbay Manufacturing Industrial Center.

The development will be done in two phases, spending the next 10 to 15 years, with the first phase focused on existing T-91 tenants and other maritime customers who want to expand operations on the property.

“With this approval, we can move forward with providing our local fishing and maritime clusters with much-needed industrial property,” said Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck. “We know that the key to expanding family-wage jobs in this region is developing industrial lands such as Terminal 91, an asset that can deliver jobs and growth for decades to come.”

Terminal 6 recently moved its first wind turbine tower parts, also known as “breakbulk” cargo, through its docks thanks to a partnership between Vestas, the Port of Portland and Portland-based Omega Morgan.

The sections for about 50 towers, which will be used on a wind project in Eastern Oregon, came from Korea. They were delivered over three separate ship calls. The last oversized shipment was handled on Friday, March 1 and later transported to its final destination by truck at night to minimize traffic issues.

“With our North American headquarters in Portland, we’re especially proud to be part of bringing the supply chain benefits of wind energy to the Port of Portland for a new wind project here in the state,” said Senior Manager of Transportation for Vestas North America, Arturus Espaillat. “The port’s ability to accommodate turbine components of this size was key to effectively and economically delivering the components to the project.”

“The port is focused on moving more breakbulk through Terminal 6 as we continue to serve shippers at our multi-use terminal,” said Port Chief Commercial Officer Keith Leavitt. “The local partnerships needed to complete this work complement a project that will bring renewable energy to the state.”.

The final steel pile to support a strengthened South Terminal was installed at the end of February, marking a significant step in the Port of Everett’s Seaport Modernization program.

Since last summer, 343 piles have been set into the sea floor to strengthen the dock and make it ready to accommodate the next generation of over-dimensional cargo, including aerospace parts for the new 777X.

The South Terminal facility is a major component of the port’s modernization program.

First constructed in 1970s to support logging operations it couldn’t accommodate the minimum 1,000 pounds per square foot requirement for cargo operations. Phase 2 of the project was designed to bolster the remaining 560-feet of the 700-foot South Terminal dock structure and update the wharf’s electrical capabilities.

When completed, the dock will be able to support two, 100-foot gauge rail-mounted container cranes and provide the ability to plug in while at dock.

Accepted students may take part in a minimum of 16 hours a month of Coast Guard activities.

"The Coast Guard is excited to begin this partnership with Cal State Long Beach," said Moore. "The CSPI program gives young men and women a chance to serve their country while earning their college degree, which is beneficial for the Coast Guard, the university and the community."

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EDITORIAL

Pacific Maritime Magazine California Contributing Editor Karen Robes Meeks spent several years covering the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California for the Long Beach Press-Telegram and our sister publication Fishermen’s News.